Dear Azalea is a flowering shrub, part of genus Rhodendron, family Ericaceae, native of the regions of China, Japan, even SUA, with mild winters and moderate summers.

Many people are purchasing red Azalea or any living color to turn it into Azalea bonsai and decorate the house with.

Description

Azalea indica is the most widespread and also one of the most beautiful species of Azalea. It’s a flowering bush, with terminal blooms, so rich in flowers that they’re practically covering the leaves. The leaves are small, but the Azalea flowers are the point of attraction, blooming all at once, with their varied colors from white to pink and red, even violet.

Azalea Flowering

Azalea usually flowers at the end of February and the blooming can last till March-April. To prolong the blooming period, Azaleas have to be preserved at a 10-12 degrees centigrade temperature. If it’s to warm and insufficient water, the Azaleas flowers and buds are withering, because Azaleas loves the moderate temperature and semi dark places. Also the draughts and over watering are tow important factors of not blooming (Azalea buds are remaining green, without becoming flowers). In this case, remove potted Azalea in a place without draughts and water it regular and moderate.

Azalea care

Azalea plant is very pretentious to light, preferring a semi dark ambient. For the vegetation period, you have to maintain an optimum temperature (22-25 degrees during the day and 16-18 degrees for night). In the blooming period, Azalea loves the moderate temperature and will keep its flowers longer, if the temperature doesn’t exceed 12 degrees centigrade. Water Azalea plant a lot especially in summer, keeping the soil always moist, because it doesn’t bear the dried soil. But keep in mind that neither the over watering is not a good thing to do. As we said before, when have written about African violet, there are two methods for you to water the plant: putting water in its saucer, so Azalea roots could absorb the water it needs or watering directly the soil. On the other hand, if you chose the first methods, clear away the water supply from the saucer, after few hours from the watering, to avoid the rottenness. Azalea, in contrast with African violet preferences, loves to be pulverized with water, especially in warm season. It would be good to use without limestone water if you want to give your Azalea the best care. Azalea soil should be a potting mix of peaty, foliage soil, bark, fir-tree needles, fertilizer manure and sand. Also fertilize Azalea soil once in two weeks, during flowering.

Azalea pruning

Here are the practices for you to fallow to make Azalea flower again.
• After flowering, break the already withered flowers and apply a pruning too.
• You are recommending you to make the transplantation in April, repotting Azalea plant in a larger pot (with 2-5 cm larger), not taller.
• At the end of May, remove the potted Azalea in a cool semi dark place (8-10 degrees centigrade). Keep watering it till September, when you have to reduce the watering and put the plant in full light, for resting.
• Azalea terminal buds will appear in February when you have to make another Azalea pruning, averting the fragile, light green sprigs, permitting the blooming.

Azalea propagation

The main method of Azalea propagation is by cuttings. At the regular February pruning, cut the juvenile sprigs at 3-4 cm from the top and stick in sand to strike roots.

This is Azalea plant with all it needs to be healthy and beautiful.
Make an Azalea festival in your house.

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